natural tick repellants

[Tim Finley]

I hunted in a camp in south Texas for a number of years and the ticks and chigger were bad we would be itching three weeks after we got home . I finally started to spay my clothes every day in permethrin I still got ticks very tiny ones they still itched bad .

[GCook]

Man Corey that sounds like no fun.
We started using it in summer camp with the scouts.  Problem is in shorter grass and pretty open area it works great but when I'm in Missouri cutting brush and mending fence in spring and summer I even pat it around my waist and shoulders.   If not they'll be all under my waist band and under arms and . . . Well obviously you understand.   Those things are horrible.

[F. Dobbs]

Buy from a local feed store please, screw amazon.

[Steve D]

 That a good one Cory:)

[Tomas Stieber]

I hope you guys know what you're doing, that are using that concentrate. That stuff is recommended for livestock only.

[achigan]

I hope you guys know what you're doing, that are using that concentrate. That stuff is recommended for livestock only.

Dilution is recommended for all uses for the Martins 10% permethrin. One can apply the Sawyers straight from the bottle/can.

[Al Dente]

Rhino Skin as a base layer, then EVERYTHING else impregnated with Permithrin.

[Terry Green]

I use permethrin impregnated clothing. It takes care of most bugs.

Simple Simon....

[GCook]

I hope you guys know what you're doing, that are using that concentrate. That stuff is recommended for livestock only.

You don't directly apply it on your skin.  Apply it to your clothes and let it dry before wearing.

[gregg dudley]

Permethrin makes me nervous.  Anything that you have to spray and let dry for hours and is still capable of keeping ticks and mosquitos away for weeks can't be great for you.  There are times of the year that I use it, but I always wear a base layer of some kind between the treated clothes and my skin.  It may be an artificial precaution, but that's just me.

[gnome]

... Repel eucalyptus spray works really well, and is as close to "natural" as they make...

[GCook]

Yeah I've had no luck with that except for short term with gnats.

[madmaxthc]

Thank you, everyone, for all good advice. 🙂👍 I'll experiment with the natural products you mentioned.

I have heard drinking a shot of vinegar works.
 

Wudstick, I tried, so far it seems to only repel my girlfriend 😂

[madmaxthc]

Also, I regularly use permethrin on my hunting clothes. I was reading of a natural alternative, recently discovered, extracted from Alaska yellow cedar trees and grapefruit skin. It is not commercially available yet, but should be coming soon. The ingredient is called Nootkatone. 

I am looking forward to it being available, seems promising 🤞

[Al Dente]

There is a company called Insect Shield that you can ship your clothes too, and they will do it professionally, and guarantee them for 20 washings.  They offer a flat rate envelope.

[Sam McMichael]

When going into heavy brush, I spray my clothes both inside and out, including my hat with Permethrin. Just make sure they are completely dry before wearing them. I always wear snake boots and tucking in my pants legs also helps keep ticks out. Tucking in your shirt also helps. Regular "tick checks" are also recommended. By the way, on numerous occasions I have found ticks to be active in the dead of winter. Our Georgia winters often are not usually cold enough to suppress them. While I have found numerous natural concoctions that work with mosquitoes and gnats, I have never found one that helps on ticks.

[Bowguy67]

The permethrin concentrate from tractor supply.

[KyKid]

Hello everyone this is my first post and I just have to chime in as I have been told by a Marine that panty hose will work to prevent anything, tick or chigger from getting to your skin. they even make full body hose for men, might be a bit warm in summer but its better than chemicals.

[Sam McMichael]

Kid, there ain't no way in hell anybody could wear panty hose to our deer camp, but I have heard of using that same procedure. I guess, being the Neanderthal that I am, I'm just not in touch with my feminine side.

[Al Dente]

If you really want to see just how viable a tick can actually be, search "Tick Lives for 27 Years, 8 Without Food."
Not only did the female tick survive for 27 years, including the 8 without a host, once a host was re-introduced, she was able to lay eggs.  Even though the last male tick died off years ago.  She was able to store the sperm until conditions were optimal again. 
I do not think ticks perish in the winter any more either.  With or without a host, in NYS we have had several cold spells over the last few Winters, with day after day of negative numbers, and yet they still survive.  I would bet that they can go into a catatonic state or cryptobiosis, like the tardigrade or water bears do.